Information processing device, image forming apparatus, control method thereof, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

In a case where a user instructs an image forming apparatus to perform processing of sending scanned image data to the user from a mobile terminal, the user needs to input a user&#39;s e-mail address on the mobile terminal, which includes an inconvenient operation. From the mobile terminal, the user instructs the image forming apparatus to send the data to the user&#39;s e-mail address which is preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus.

BACKGROUND Field of the Disclosure

The present disclosure relates to a data processing device including asending unit, an information processing method of the data processingdevice, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

In recent years, a high-performance mobile terminal called a smartphonehas become widespread. The mobile terminal can send instructions forscanning, printing, and the like to an image forming apparatus, andoperate the image forming apparatus. For example, an operation to sendimage data scanned by the image forming apparatus to a set destinationcan be instructed from the mobile terminal. The mobile terminalconfigures a job by adding an e-mail address as a sending destination ofimage data set on the mobile terminal by a user and various kinds ofscan setting information to the job. The mobile terminal then sends thejob to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus, whichhas received the job, sends image data scanned in accordance with a scansetting included in the job to the e-mail address as the sendingdestination included in the job. In this manner, a series of settingoperations necessary for sending the scanned image data can be completedusing the mobile terminal. In this operation, communication between themobile terminal and the image forming apparatus is established inaccordance with a communication protocol, such as Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), Near Field Communication (NFC), andBluetooth®. In recent years, after the user performs settings on themobile terminal, the user can also operate the image forming apparatusin accordance with the settings via the NFC or the like by simplybringing the mobile terminal close to (in touch with) the image formingapparatus.

Meanwhile, after a scan setting and a sending destination setting areperformed on an operation panel of the image forming apparatus, theimage forming apparatus can also send scanned image data. As a method ofeasily selecting an e-mail address of a user who is performing anoperation at the time of setting a sending destination on the operationpanel of the image forming apparatus, Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2019-68336 proposes the following method. That is, a userwho can log in to the image forming apparatus and the user's e-mailaddress are preliminarily registered in association with each other inthe image forming apparatus. When the user logs in to the image formingapparatus, the image forming apparatus displays a send-to-myself buttonto set the log-in user's e-mail address as a destination to whichscanned image data or the like is sent. Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2019-68336 also discusses a method in which the imageforming apparatus calls the user's e-mail address registered inassociation with the user when the user selects the send-to-myselfbutton and sets the e-mail address as the destination.

In a case where the user instructs the image forming apparatus toperform processing of sending scanned image to the user from the mobileterminal, the user needs to input the user's e-mail address using themobile terminal, which requires the user to perform an inconvenientoperation.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to increasing useroperability in a case where the user instructs the image formingapparatus to send data to the user from the mobile terminal. Accordingto embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for an informationprocessing device capable of communicating with an image formingapparatus, the method includes sending first information including userinformation of a user operating the information processing device andinformation to instruct the image forming apparatus to send image datato a destination of the user which is preliminarily registered in theimage forming apparatus in correspondence with the user information, tothe image forming apparatus.

Further features of the present disclosure will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration according to anexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of a dataprocessing device according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of an imageforming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of thedata processing device according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a software configuration of theimage forming apparatus according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a sending setting screenof the image forming apparatus according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of a menu screen of the dataprocessing device according to the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a send-to-myself screenof the data processing device according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a send-to-myself screenof the data processing device according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a color setting screenof the data processing device according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart describing processing for executing asend-to-myself operation in the data processing device according to thepresent exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart describing processing for executing asend-to-myself operation in the image forming apparatus according to thepresent exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart describing processing for resetting an e-mailaddress in the image forming apparatus according to the presentexemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart describing processing for resetting an e-mailaddress in the data processing device according to the present exemplaryembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described indetail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note thatconstituent elements described in the exemplary embodiments are merelyexamples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dataprocessing system according to a first exemplary embodiment. A dataprocessing system 100 includes a data processing device 101, a wirelesslocal area network (LAN) terminal 102, an image forming apparatus 104,and a cloud server 105, which are connected with one another via anetwork 103, such as a LAN.

The data processing device 101 is, for example, a mobile terminal, suchas a smartphone, and may be an information processing device in which anoperating system for a compact terminal and a program for controlling anaudio phone call, positional detection, and data communication operate.Alternatively, the data processing device 101 may be a personal computernot having functions, such as audio phone call control and positionaldetection control. The data processing device 101 is connected with thenetwork 103 by the wireless LAN terminal 102.

The wireless LAN terminal 102 is a wireless LAN master unit having atypical network router function, and provides a wireless LAN in, forexample, a home and an office.

The image forming apparatus 104 is a multi-function peripheral havingvarious kinds of functions, such as a printer function, a copy function,a scan function, and a fax function. The image forming apparatus 104 maybe configured to incorporate a wireless access point, and be capable ofdirectly communicating with the data processing device 101. From thedata processing device 101 in communication with the image formingapparatus 104, a user can instruct the image forming apparatus 104 toexecute a job to cause the image forming apparatus 104 to execute afunction of the image forming apparatus 104.

The cloud server 105 exchanges data with the data processing device 101or the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. The cloud server105, for example, manages data that is used in the data processingdevice 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 and performs processingof, for example, extending various kinds of functions. While, in thepresent exemplary embodiment, the image forming apparatus 104 and thecloud server 105 have wired connection with the network 103, a wirelessconnection may be used using the wireless LAN terminal 102 similarly tothe data processing device 101.

The data processing device 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 arealso capable of performing short-range wireless communication using NearField Communication (NFC), Bluetooth® Low Energy (Bluetooth® LE), or thelike. The image forming apparatus 104 sends connection information (suchas an Internet Protocol (IP) address, a media access control (MAC)address, and subsystem identification (SSID)) to allow the dataprocessing device 101 to have wireless LAN connection with the imageforming apparatus 104 via an NFC communication unit or a Bluetooth® LEcommunication unit, which will be described below. The data processingdevice 101 then starts wireless LAN communication with the image formingapparatus 104 using the acquired connection information.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the dataprocessing device 101 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Thedata processing device 101 includes a controller unit 201. Thecontroller unit 201 controls various kinds of communication units, i.e.,an NFC communication unit 210, a Bluetooth® LE communication unit 211,and a wireless LAN communication unit 212, and various kinds of userinterface (UI) units, i.e., a microphone/speaker 213, a display 214, anda touch panel 215.

The controller unit 201 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 202, aread-only memory (ROM) 203, a random-access memory (RAM) 204, a networkinterface (I/F) 205, an audio control unit 206, a display control unit207, an input control unit 208, and a storage device 209, which areconnected with one another by a system bus 216.

The CPU 202 controls the whole system of the data processing device 101.An operating system of the data processing device 101 and a program forcontrolling a phone call, data communication, and the like are stored inthe ROM 203, and the CPU 202 executes various kinds of programs. The RAM204 is used as a main memory of the CPU 202 and a temporary storage areaof a work area or the like.

The storage device 209 is a nonvolatile storage device, and recordssettings for various kinds of operation modes, operating logs, and thelike that are held in the storage device 209 even after a restart of thedata processing device 101.

The network I/F 205 is connected with the NFC communication unit 210,the Bluetooth® LE communication unit 211, and the wireless LANcommunication unit 212, and exchanges data with the image formingapparatus 104 or the cloud server 105 via various kinds of wirelesscommunication.

The audio control unit 206 performs input/output control of audio datavia the microphone/speaker 213. The display control unit 207 performsoutput control of a screen displayed on the display 214. The inputcontrol unit 208 performs input control of information instructed by theuser via a button or the touch panel 215. Various kinds of applicationsexecuted in the data processing device 101 use the audio control unit206, the display control unit 207, the input control unit 208, and thelike.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the imageforming apparatus 104 according to the present exemplary embodiment. Theimage forming apparatus 104 includes a controller unit 301 that controlsvarious kinds of communication units, i.e., an NFC communication unit310, a Bluetooth® LE communication unit 311, and a wireless LANcommunication unit 312, an operation unit 307, a scanner 313, and aprinter 314. In a case where the user uses a copy function of the imageforming apparatus 104, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313to acquire image data of an original document, and controls the printer314 to output an image on paper. In a case where the user uses a scanand send function, the controller unit 301 controls the scanner 313 toacquire image data of an original document and converts the image datato coded data. The controller unit 301 then sends the coded data to thedata processing device 101, the cloud server 105, or the like via anetwork I/F 308. In a case where the user uses a print function, thecontroller unit 301 receives the image data (coded data) from the dataprocessing device 101 or the cloud server 105 via the network I/F 308.The controller unit 301 then sends the received image data to theprinter 314. The printer 314 prints an image on paper as an output onthe basis of the received image data. The image forming apparatus 104also has a fax receiving function to receive data from an integratedservices digital network (ISDN) or the like and print the data, and afax sending function to send scanned data to the ISDN or the like. Workto be processed according to the setting or the like set by the user toexecute each function described above is referred to as a job, and theimage forming apparatus 104 executes predetermined processing inaccordance with the job.

The controller unit 301 includes a CPU 302, a RAM 303, a ROM 304, a harddisk drive (HDD) 305, an operation unit I/F 306, the network I/F 308,and a device I/F 309, which are connected with one another by a systembus 315.

The CPU 302 controls the whole system of the image forming apparatus104. The RAM 303 is a system work memory for the CPU 302 to operate, andimage data or the like is temporarily stored in the RAM 303. Inaddition, scanned image data read by the scanner 313, print image datareceived from the data processing device 101 via the network 103, or thelike is stored in the RAM 303. The system's boot program, anapplication, and the like are stored in the ROM 304. An operatingsystem, system software, application software, image data, setting data,and the like are stored in the HDD 305.

The operation unit I/F 306 outputs information to be displayed on theoperation unit 307 to the operation unit 307. The operation unit I/F 306also accepts information input by the user from the operation unit 307.The network I/F 308 is connected with the NFC communication unit 310,the Bluetooth® LE communication unit 311, and the wireless LANcommunication unit 312, and exchanges data with the data processingdevice 101 and the cloud server 105 via various kinds of wirelesscommunication. The wireless LAN communication unit 312 performs wirelessLAN communication with the data processing device 101 via the network103. The NFC communication unit 310 and the Bluetooth® LE communicationunit 311 perform short-range wireless communication with the dataprocessing device 101. The image forming apparatus 104 receives jobsetting information, image data, a job execution command, and the likefrom the data processing device 101, and executes a job. The device I/F309 connects the scanner 313 and the printer 314 for reading image dataand executing print with the controller unit 301, and inputs/outputs theimage data.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the dataprocessing device 101 according to the present exemplary embodiment.FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of software implemented by the CPU202 reading a control program stored in the ROM 203 or the storagedevice 209.

An application 401 is an application installed in the data processingdevice 101. The user performs setting on the application 401 to create ajob, and the job can be sent to the image forming apparatus 104. Whilevarious applications other than the application 401 are installed in thedata processing device 101, a description thereof is omitted. Aconfiguration of the application 401 will be described below.

A UI control unit 402 accepts job setting information or the like inputto the touch panel 215 by the user, and sends an accepted content to ajob setting management unit 406 via the input control unit 208. The UIcontrol unit 402 also receives a response from the job settingmanagement unit 406 or the job control unit 407, and outputs a screen inaccordance with the received content on the display 214 via the displaycontrol unit 207. The UI control unit 402 yet also accepts userinformation input to the touch panel 215 by the user and authenticationinformation for a log-in to the image forming apparatus 104, such as apassword, and sends the accepted information to an authenticationsetting management unit 403 via the input control unit 208.

The authentication setting management unit 403 registers therein theauthentication information received from the UI control unit 402. Theauthentication setting management unit 403 then performs processing forthe log-in to the image forming apparatus 104 on the basis of theauthentication information. Specifically, the authentication settingmanagement unit 403 hands off the authentication information to anetwork control unit 405. The authentication information is sent to theimage forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. The image formingapparatus 104 performs log-in processing using the receivedauthentication information, and returns a result to the data processingdevice 101.

A device connection unit 404 establishes short-range wirelesscommunication using the NFC or the Bluetooth® LE or wireless LANcommunication via the network 103 between the data processing device 101and the image forming apparatus 104. For example, in the case of theNFC, the short-range wireless communication is started by the userbringing the NFC communication unit 210 of the data processing device101 close to the NFC communication unit 310 of the image formingapparatus 104. In the case of the Bluetooth® LE, the Bluetooth® LEcommunication unit 311 of the image forming apparatus 104 sends aBluetooth® LE beacon, and the Bluetooth® LE communication unit 211 ofthe data processing device 101 receives the sent beacon. In a case wherethe device connection unit 404 determines that a radio field intensityof the beacon received by the data processing device 101 reaches apredetermined intensity or higher by the user bringing the dataprocessing device 101 close to the image forming apparatus 104, theshort-range wireless communication is started. In this manner, thedevice connection unit 404 performs the short-range wirelesscommunication with the image forming apparatus 104 by the user bringingthe NFC communication unit 210 of the data processing device 101 closeto the NFC communication unit 310 of the image forming apparatus 104 orbringing the Bluetooth® LE communication unit 211 of the data processingdevice 101 close to the Bluetooth® LE communication unit 311 of theimage forming apparatus 104. The device connection unit 404 acquiresdevice information including connection information to be used forwireless LAN communication from the image forming apparatus 104 via theshort-range wireless communication. The device connection unit 404starts wireless LAN communication with the image forming apparatus 104via the network 103 using the acquired connection information.

The network control unit 405 sends job setting information, a jobexecution command, image data, user authentication information, and thelike to the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103. In a caseof configuring a job to send scanned image data to a set destination,the job setting information is setting information regarding adestination to which data is sent, a scan setting, and the like. Thenetwork control unit 405 also receives the job setting information andthe like stored in the image forming apparatus 104 via the network 103.

The job setting management unit 406 stores job setting information inputby the user and accepted by the UI control unit 402 and job settinginformation received by the network control unit 405 from the imageforming apparatus 104 or the cloud server 105 in the RAM 204 or thestorage device 209. In this operation, the job setting management unit406 may register these pieces of job setting information as “favorites”as settings frequently used by the user. In addition, the job settingmanagement unit 406 may register predetermined setting information as“preset” at the time of installation of the application 401.

The job control unit 407 generates a job from the job settinginformation included in the “favorites” or “preset” registered in thejob setting management unit 406 or job setting information set by a useroperation, and sends a job execution instruction to the image formingapparatus 104 via the network 103. In addition, the job control unit 407also acquires a job execution situation and a device operation status ofthe scanner 313 or printer 314 from the image forming apparatus 104 viathe network 103, and sends the job execution situation and the deviceoperation status to the UI control unit 402.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a software configuration of the imageforming apparatus 104 according to the present exemplary embodiment.FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of software implemented by the CPU302 reading a control program stored in the ROM 304 or the HDD 305.

The application management unit 501 manages an application that operateson the image forming apparatus 104. A UI control unit 502 accepts jobsetting information and the like input by the user via the operationunit 307, and hands off the job setting information to a job settingmanagement unit 506. In addition, the UI control unit 502 receives aresponse from the job setting management unit 506 or a job control unit507, and outputs a screen in accordance with the response to theoperation unit 307.

An authentication unit 503 performs log-in processing on the basis ofauthentication information received from the data processing device 101,and returns a result. The image forming apparatus 104 holds variouskinds of information such as an e-mail address corresponding to a log-inuser.

A device connection unit 504 establishes wireless LAN communication viashort-range wireless communication with the data processing device 101.A network control unit 505 receives job setting information, a jobexecution instruction command, image data, user authenticationinformation, and the like from the data processing device 101 via thenetwork 103. The network control unit 505 also sends job settinginformation stored in the image forming apparatus 104 to the dataprocessing device 101 via the network 103.

In the RAM 303 or the HDD 305, the job setting management unit 506stores job setting information input by the user and accepted by the UIcontrol unit 502 and job information including job setting informationreceived from the data processing device 101 or the cloud server 105 bythe network control unit 505. In this operation, the job settingmanagement unit 506 may register these pieces of job setting informationas “favorites” as settings frequently used by the user. In addition, thejob setting management unit 506 may register predetermined settinginformation as “preset”. The job setting management unit 506 alsomanages jobs executed in the image forming apparatus 104 as “history”.

The job control unit 507 controls units including a scan processing unit511, a copy processing unit 512, a print processing unit 513, and a faxprocessing unit 514 in accordance with the received job information andexecutes various kinds of jobs. In this operation, the job control unit507 executes various kinds of jobs using job setting information set bythe user on the operation unit 307 and job setting informationregistered as the “favorites” or the “preset” by the job settingmanagement unit 506. The job control unit 507 also receives a jobexecution request received from the data processing device 101 or thelike via the network 103, and executes various kinds of jobs inaccordance with the received job setting information and job executioninstruction. The job control unit 507 yet also sends a job executionsituation and a device operation status of the scanner 313 or printer314 to the data processing device 101 via the network 103.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of a setting screen to send scanned imagedata to a set destination. The setting screen is displayed on the imageforming apparatus 104. The setting screen is a screen that is displayedby the user calling an application to perform a scan and send operationon the image forming apparatus 104.

A screen 601 is a screen to set a sending destination. On the screen601, the sending destination can be selected and a scan setting can beperformed. A send-to-myself button 602 is a button to add an e-mailaddress corresponding to a log-in user as a sending destination by beingpressed in a case where the e-mail address corresponding to the log-inuser is preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus 104.While, in the present exemplary embodiment, an administrator of theimage forming apparatus 104 can register a list that associatesidentification (ID) of each user who can log in to the image formingapparatus 104 with an e-mail address of each user, the configuration isnot limited thereto. For example, each user may be able to preliminarilyregister and change his/her own e-mail address. A save-to-my-folderbutton 603 is a button to add, in a case where the log-in user registersa specific destination to save (my folder), my folder as a sendingdestination. In a case where my folder has yet to be registered, thedestination for saving can be set and registered by pressing thesave-to-my-folder button 603. An e-mail address as a sending destinationand the like are displayed in a destination list 604.

A description will be given of selection of a function of theapplication 401 on the data processing device 101 with reference to FIG.7. FIG. 7 illustrates a menu screen of the application 401 that operateson the data processing device 101. The application 401 can communicatewith the image forming apparatus 104 and issue an instruction to executeprocessing based on contents set on the application 401 to the imageforming apparatus 104.

On a menu screen 703 of the application 401, the UI control unit 402displays a list of processing that uses functions of the image formingapparatus 104. The displayed list includes jobs registered as, forexample, the “favorites” and the “preset” described above. The listdisplays, for example, a send-to-myself button 701 to send scanned imageto a user (who has logged in to the image forming apparatus 104) bye-mail, and a save-to-my-folder button 702 to save the scanned image toa user's registered folder. In a case where the send-to-myself button701 is pressed, the screen transits to a send-to-myself setting screen710 to send an e-mail to the user. In a case where the save-to-my-folderbutton 702 is pressed, the screen transits to a setting screen (notillustrated) to save the scanned image to my folder. A plurality ofbuttons to execute jobs that use basic functions of the image formingapparatus 104, such as a “copy” button and a “print” button is arrangedin a basic job button area 704. In a case where any of the buttons ispressed, the screen transits to a corresponding setting screen toexecute a job.

Before referring to FIGS. 8 to 10, an overview of the present exemplaryembodiment will be described. In a case where the user presses thesend-to-myself button 701, performs a setting on the setting screen, andbrings the data processing device 101 in touch with the image formingapparatus 104, the user can send image data scanned by the image formingapparatus 104 to the user. In the conventional operation, the userinputs the user's e-mail address on the setting screen of the dataprocessing device 101. In this regard, in the present exemplaryembodiment, the user instructs the image forming apparatus 104 to usethe user's e-mail address preliminarily registered in the image formingapparatus 104 on the data processing device 101. Accordingly, the usercan instruct to send image data to the user without setting the user'se-mail address on the data processing device 101.

A description will be given of a setting that is performed on the dataprocessing device 101 to send scanned image to the user with referenceto FIGS. 8, 9, and 10.

The send-to-myself setting screen 710 illustrated in FIG. 8 is a screento perform a setting to send scanned image to the user by e-mail, andthe screen is displayed by the send-to-myself button 701 being pressedon the screen illustrated in FIG. 7. In a title area 711, a titleindicating what kind of a setting is to be performed on the screen(“send e-mail to myself” in FIG. 8) is displayed, and a button to beused to cancel the setting and go back to the menu screen is alsodisposed. An e-mail address setting area 712 is an area to display theset e-mail address. In a case where the area is pressed, the e-mailaddress as the sending destination can be directly input by softwarekeys. In a case where an address book open button 713 is pressed, anaddress book in the data processing device 101 opens. In a case wherethe user selects an e-mail address from the address book that hasopened, the selected e-mail address is displayed in the e-mail addresssetting area 712. A plurality of e-mail addresses can be set. In asend-to-myself-setting-in-MFP setting area 714, a switching button 715is used to switch whether or not to cause the image forming apparatus104 to execute a function corresponding to that of the send-to-myselfbutton 602 of a multi-function peripheral (MFP) (as an example of theimage forming apparatus 104). That is, whether or not to use the user'se-mail address registered in the image forming apparatus 104 can beswitched by the switching button 715. In the present exemplaryembodiment, the switching button 715 in thesend-to-myself-setting-in-MFP setting area 714 is ON by default. In acase where an open button 718 is pressed, the screen transits to ascreen illustrated in FIG. 9, and settings regarding a subject of ane-mail, a body, and the like can be set.

A CC input area 720 and a BCC input area 721 each have the sameconfiguration of that of the e-mail address setting area 712, and ane-mail address to which an e-mail is sent can be input thereto. Asubject field 722 to which a subject is input, and a file name field723, a body field 724 to which a body is input can be input by softwarekeys of the data processing device 101, and the user can input anycharacter strings thereto.

The description returns to FIG. 8. Buttons, for changing the scansetting, including a color setting button 717 are disposed below a scansetting area 716. In a case where the color setting button 717 ispressed, the screen transits to a color setting screen 730 illustratedin FIG. 10. In a title area 731, a title indicating that the screen isthe “color setting” screen is displayed, and a back button to confirmthe setting and return to the previous screen is disposed. Setting items732 display items regarding the color setting. In a case where any oneof these items is pressed, the item is changed to a selected status asillustrated in a status 733.

After various kinds of settings are performed on the send-to-myselfsetting screen 710, and in a case where the user brings the dataprocessing device 101 in touch with the image forming apparatus 104, thedata processing device 101 sends the settings performed on thesend-to-myself setting screen 710 to the image forming apparatus 104.The image forming apparatus 104 then executes sending processing basedon the received settings.

A save-to-my-folder setting screen (not illustrated) displayed by thesave-to-my-folder button 702 illustrated in FIG. 7 being pressed has aconfiguration equivalent to the send-to-myself setting screenillustrated in FIG. 8. The send-to-myself-setting-in-MFP setting area714 illustrated in FIG. 8 cis replaced with an area for determiningwhether to execute a function corresponding to that of thesave-to-my-folder button 603. In a case where the setting is ON, theuser's folder preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus104 is set to a sending destination of data.

A description will be given of the processing procedure of the dataprocessing device 101 in a case where various kinds of settings areperformed on the send-to-myself setting screen 710 and the user bringsthe data processing device 101 in touch with the image forming apparatus104, using a flowchart for sending illustrated in FIG. 11. Each stepillustrated in the flowchart is processed by the CPU 202 loading acontrol program (application) stored in a memory, such as the ROM 203and the storage device 209, to the RAM 204 and executing the program.

In step S801, the send-to-myself button 701 on the menu screen 703illustrated in FIG. 7 is pressed, and the UI control unit 402 displaysthe send-to-myself setting screen 710. In step 802, the CPU 202 acceptsa setting regarding a sending destination. Specifically, the CPU 202accepts an e-mail address setting performed in the e-mail addresssetting area 712 and switching by the switching button 715 of whether ornot to execute the send-to-myself operation of the MFP. In step S803,the CPU 202 accepts an input regarding e-mail information, such as ascan setting performed in the scan setting area 716, the subject field722, the file name field 723, and the body field 724. Since, in thepresent exemplary embodiment, the switching button 715 is ON by defaultand also a default value is set to the scan setting, steps S802 and S803are not necessarily required, and the order of steps are not limited tothis order. That is, the processing can proceed to the next step withoutthe processing of accepting the sending destination, the scan setting,and the like.

In step S804, after the user brings the data processing device 101 intouch with the image forming apparatus 104, the device connection unit404 acquires connection information on wireless LAN communication froman NFC tag of the image forming apparatus 104. In step S805, the CPU 202determines whether the data processing device 101 has establishedcommunication connection with the image forming apparatus 104 using theconnection information. In a case where the data processing device 101has not established the communication connection (NO in step S805), theUI control unit 402 displays a message indicating a failure tocommunicate on the data processing device 101, and the processing ends.In a case where the data processing device 101 has established thecommunication connection (YES in step S805), the processing proceeds tostep S806. In step S806, the CPU 202 determines whether the setting inthe send-to-myself-setting-in MFP setting area 714 is ON or OFF. In acase where the setting in the send-to-myself-setting-in-MFP setting area714 is ON (YES in step S806), the processing proceeds to step S807. Instep S807, the CPU 202 sends authentication information registered inthe authentication setting management unit 403 to the image formingapparatus 104, and performs log-in processing to the image formingapparatus 104. The communication established in step S805 is used forthe sending in this operation. In step S808, the CPU 202 receives aresult of the log-in processing from the image forming apparatus 104 anddetermines whether the log-in is successful. In a case where the log-inis successful (YES in step S808), the processing proceeds to step S809.In step S809, the network control unit 405 sends job setting information(an e-mail address, a send-to-myself setting in the MFP, a scan setting,e-mail information, and the like) set on the send-to-myself settingscreen 710 and job information including an execution command to theimage forming apparatus 104. The communication established in step S805is used for the sending in this operation. In a case where the networkcontrol unit 405 receives a message that the log-in is failed, theprocessing proceeds to step S810. In step S810, the UI control unit 402displays an authentication error on the screen, and the processing ends.

In a case where the setting in the send-to-myself-setting-in-MFP settingarea 714 is OFF (NO in step S806), the processing proceeds to step S811.In step S811, the CPU 202 determines whether an e-mail address is set inthe e-mail address setting area 712. In a case where the e-mail addressis set in the e-mail address setting area 712 (YES in step S811), theprocessing proceeds to step S807. In a case where no e-mail address isset in the e-mail address setting area 712 (NO in step S811), theprocessing proceeds to step S812. In step S812, the UI control unit 402displays an error message that “no destination is set” on the screen,and the processing ends. In this flowchart, the data processing device101 acquires the connection information from the image forming apparatus104 via the NFC communication and establishes wireless LAN communicationwith the image forming apparatus 104 using the connection information toexchange various kinds of data with the image forming apparatus 104.However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and the dataprocessing device 101 and the image forming apparatus 104 may exchangevarious kinds of data via Bluetooth® communication. Alternatively, thedata processing device 101 may acquire connection information by readinga quick response (QR) code displayed by the UI control unit 502 of theimage forming apparatus 104, and perform wireless communication usingthe connection information.

Subsequently, a description will be given of processing executed by theimage forming apparatus 104 that has received the job information (thejob information sent in step S809) including the job setting informationset on the send-to-myself setting screen 710 on the data processingdevice 101, using the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 12. In thisoperation, the image forming apparatus 104 has received theauthentication information sent from the data processing device 101 instep S807, and is in a state where the user of the data processingdevice 101 has logged in to the image forming apparatus 104. The imageforming apparatus 104, which has received the authentication informationand performed the log-in processing, may display a screen after thelog-in.

Each step illustrated in the flowchart is processed by the CPU 302loading a control program (application) stored in a memory, such as theROM 304 and the HDD 305, to the RAM 303 and executing the program. Instep S821, the network control unit 505 receives the job informationsent in step S809 from the data processing device 101. In thisprocessing, the CPU 302 may start an application to scan and send data,and the UI control unit 502 may display the screen 601. In step S822,the CPU 302 refers to the send-to-myself-setting-in-MFP setting in thereceived job information to determine whether the setting is ON or OFF.In a case where the setting is ON (YES in step S822), the processingproceeds to step S823. In step S823, the CPU 302 determines whether ane-mail address of the user who has logged in to the image formingapparatus 104 (for example, a personal e-mail address set in the user'spersonal computer (PC)) is registered in the image forming apparatus104. In a case where the e-mail address has been registered (YES in stepS823), the processing proceeds to step S824. In step S824, the CPU 302adds the user's registered e-mail address to a sending destination list.In a case where the e-mail address has not been registered (NO in stepS823), the processing proceeds to step S825.

In a case where the “send-to-myself” setting in the MFP is OFF (NO instep S822), the processing proceeds to step S825. In step S825, the CPU302 extracts a list of e-mail address(es) as sending destination(s)included in the received job information (e-mail address(es) set in thee-mail address setting area 712 and the like), and adds the e-mailaddress(es) to the sending destination list. In step S826, the CPU 302determines whether the number of e-mail addresses in the sendingdestination list is one or more. In a case where the number of e-mailaddresses is one or more (YES in step S826), the processing proceeds tostep S827. In step S827, the CPU 302 extracts a scan setting from thejob information, and executes scan with the scan setting. In step S828,after the execution of the job is completed, the CPU 302 creates asending e-mail including e-mail information. In this operation, the CPU302 sets an e-mail address in the sending destination list as adestination. In step S829, the CPU 302 adds the scanned image scanned instep S827 to the e-mail created in step S828 and sends the email.

In a case where there is no e-mail address in the sending destinationlist in step S826 (NO in step S826), the processing proceeds to stepS830. In step S830, the UI control unit 502 displays an error messagethat no destination is set, and the processing ends. In this operation,the error message may be displayed on the data processing device 101.

As described above, according to the present exemplary embodiment, thesending of the scanned image to the user's e-mail address registered inthe image forming apparatus can be instructed from the data processingdevice (mobile terminal). This eliminates the need for the userinputting the user's e-mail address on the data processing device 101,and therefore usability is increased.

For example, there is a case where the user's e-mail address for work isnot registered in an address book of the mobile terminal of the user.Meanwhile, user ID of each user who can use the image forming apparatusand each user's e-mail address for work are registered in the imageforming apparatus by an administrator of the image forming apparatus.Under such circumstances, according to the present exemplary embodiment,the user can easily issue an instruction to send scanned image to theuser's e-mail address for work without inputting the user's e-mailaddress for work on the mobile terminal.

While, in the present exemplary embodiment, settings are performed onthe data processing device and then the data processing device isbrought in touch with the image forming apparatus to startcommunication, the configuration is not limited thereto. The presentexemplary embodiment is also applicable to a case where the dataprocessing device and the image forming apparatus are in communicationwith each other, and the settings are performed on the data processingdevice and an instruction is then issued to the image forming apparatus.While, in the present exemplary embodiment, the description has beengiven of the example of using the function of the “send-to-myself”setting in the MFP on the data processing device, a case of using thesave-to-my-folder setting in the MFP on the data processing device canbe achieved by a similar configuration.

In the first exemplary embodiment, in a case where there is no e-mailaddress in the sending destination list in step S826 for such reasons asno e-mail address as a destination being set on the data processingdevice 101, the error message is displayed in step S830. In a secondexemplary embodiment, a description will be given of an example in whichthe data processing device 101 automatically acquires a personal e-mailaddress of the data processing device 101, and sets the personal e-mailaddress as a destination of the send-to-myself operation. Since thebasic configuration of the present exemplary embodiment is the same asthat of the first exemplary embodiment, only a difference will bedescribed.

The processing procedure of the image forming apparatus 104 according tothe present exemplary embodiment will be described using the flowchartillustrated in FIG. 13. Since the basic configuration of the flowchartin FIG. 13 is the same as that in FIG. 12, only a difference will bedescribed. In a case where the CPU 302 of the image forming apparatus104 performs determination of whether the number of e-mail addresses inthe sending destination list is one or more, and then determines thatthere is no e-mail address in the sending destination list in step S826,the processing proceeds to step S901. In step S901, the CPU 302 notifiesthe data processing device 101 that no destination is set. In step S902,the CPU 302 determines whether a predetermined period of time haselapsed after the notification in step S901. In a case where thepredetermined period of time has elapsed (YES in step S902), the UIcontrol unit 502 displays an error message or the CPU 302 notifies thedata processing device 101 of the error, and the processing ends. In acase where the predetermined period of time has not elapsed (NO in stepS902), the processing proceeds to step S903. In step S903, the CPU 302determines whether the image forming apparatus 104 has received aresponse from the data processing device 101. In a case where the CPU302 has received no response (NO in step S903), the processing returnsto step S902. In a case where the CPU 302 has received the response (YESin step S903), the processing proceeds to step S904. In step S904, theCPU 302 determines whether an e-mail address is included in the receivedresponse. In a case where the e-mail address is included in the receivedresponse (YES in step S904), the processing proceeds to step S905. Instep S905, the CPU 302 adds the e-mail address included in the receivedresponse to the sending destination list, and then the processingproceeds to step S827. In a case where no e-mail address is included inthe received response (NO in step S904), the CPU 302 cancels theprocessing and the UI control unit 502 displays an error message, andthe processing ends.

The processing procedure executed by the data processing device 101 tosearch for the user's personal e-mail address of the data processingdevice 101, and send the searched e-mail address to the image formingapparatus 104 will be described using the flowchart illustrated in FIG.14.

In step S911, the CPU 202 of the data processing device 101 receives thenotification indicating that no destination is set from the imageforming apparatus 104 in step S901. In step S912, the CPU 202 searchesfor the user's personal e-mail address of the data processing devicethat is set to the data processing device 101. The user's personale-mail address of the data processing device 101 mentioned herein is, apersonal e-mail address set to the operating system of the dataprocessing device 101, such as a carrier e-mail address and a Gmailaddress. In step S913, the CPU 202 determines whether the number ofe-mail addresses searched in step S912 is one or more. In a case wherethe number of e-mail addresses is one or more (YES in step S913), theprocessing proceeds to step S914. In step S914, the UI control unit 402displays a screen (not illustrated) including a message for making auser's confirmation of the personal e-mail address(es) to be sent to theimage forming apparatus 104, together with OK and cancel buttons. Instep S915, the CPU 202 determines whether a pressed button is the OKbutton. In a case where the pressed button is the OK button (YES in stepS915), the processing proceeds to step S916. In step S916, the CPU 202sends the e-mail address(es) searched in step S912 to the image formingapparatus 104, and the processing ends. In a case where the pressedbutton is the cancel button (NO in step S915), the processing proceedsto step S918. In step S918, the CPU 202 notifies the image formingapparatus 104 of cancellation of the job, and the processing ends.

In a case where no e-mail address can be searched (NO in step S913), theprocessing proceeds to step S917. In step S917, the UI control unit 402displays a message that there is no e-mail address on the dataprocessing device 101, and the processing proceeds to step S918.

While the data processing device 101 displays the confirmation messagein step S914 in this flowchart, the data processing device 101 may sendthe user's personal e-mail address(es) of the data processing device 101that can be automatically searched to the image forming apparatus 104without displaying the confirmation message.

According to the exemplary embodiments described above, even in a casewhere the user issues an instruction for the send-to-myself operation tothe image forming apparatus 104 without setting an e-mail address as adestination on the data processing device 101, the user can set theuser's personal e-mail address of the data processing device 101 as thedestination without the effort of setting the e-mail address. While, inthe present exemplary embodiment, the data processing device 101 isconfigured to search for the user's personal e-mail address of the dataprocessing device 101 in a case where no destination is set at the timeof sending a job, the configuration is not limited thereto. The dataprocessing device 101 may be configured such that the searched user'spersonal e-mail address of the data processing device 101 is set bydefault in the e-mail address setting area 712.

The present disclosure includes the following processing. That is,software (program) to implement the functions of the exemplaryembodiments described above is supplied to a system or a device via anetwork or a storage medium of various types, and the processing isexecuted by a computer (or a CPU, a microprocessing unit (MPU), or thelike) of the system or device reading the program.

Other Embodiments

Embodiment(s) of the present disclosure can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present disclosure includes exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the disclosure is not limited to the disclosed exemplaryembodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andequivalent structures and functions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2020-014214, filed Jan. 30, 2020, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for an information processing devicecapable of communicating with an image forming apparatus, the methodcomprising: sending first information including user information of auser operating the information processing device and information toinstruct the image forming apparatus to send image data to a destinationof the user which is preliminarily registered in the image formingapparatus in correspondence with the user information, to the imageforming apparatus.
 2. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: acquiring connection information from the image formingapparatus via short-range wireless communication; and performingwireless local area network (LAN) communication with the image formingapparatus using the acquired connection information, wherein, in thesending, the first information is sent to the image forming apparatususing the short-range wireless communication.
 3. The method according toclaim 2, wherein, after the acquiring of the connection information,processing until the sending of the first information is automaticallyperformed.
 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the informationto instruct the image forming apparatus is set on the informationprocessing device.
 5. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: accepting a setting of a destination to which the image datais sent from the user; and in a case of sending the first information,information to instruct the image forming apparatus to send the imagedata to the accepted destination and the destination of the user whichis preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus incorrespondence with the user information is sent to the image formingapparatus.
 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising:accepting a user's selection of whether to include, in the firstinformation, the information to instruct the image forming apparatus tosend the image data to the destination of the user which ispreliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus; and performingcontrol in accordance with the accepted selection to determine, whetherto include, in the first information, the information to instruct theimage forming apparatus to send the image data to the destination of theuser which is preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus inthe first information or include, in the first information, theinformation to instruct the image forming apparatus to send the imagedata to the accepted destination.
 7. The method according to claim 1,wherein the user information is used for a log-in to the image formingapparatus.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the destinationof the user which is preliminarily registered in the image formingapparatus in correspondence with the user information is a destinationof a user logged in to the image forming apparatus.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the image data is generated using ascanner of the image forming apparatus.
 10. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the destination of the user which is preliminarilyregistered in the image forming apparatus is an e-mail address.
 11. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the destination of the user whichis preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus is a folder.12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: automaticallyacquiring a personal e-mail address of the information processingdevice; and in a case where no destination corresponding the userinformation is preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus,instructing the image forming apparatus to send the image data to theacquired personal e-mail address.
 13. The method according to claim 1,wherein an application to send the image data to the destination of theuser is started in the image forming apparatus that has received thefirst information.
 14. A system comprising devices that include an imageforming apparatus and an information processing device, wherein theinformation processing device comprises: a first memory; and a firstprocessor in communication with the first memory, wherein the firstprocessor is configured to send information including user informationof a user operating the information processing device and information toinstruct the image forming apparatus to send image data to the imageforming apparatus, wherein the image forming apparatus comprises: asecond memory; and a second processor in communication with the secondmemory, wherein the second processor is configured to: receive theinformation sent by the information processing device; and uponreceiving the information, send the image data to a destination of theuser which is preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus incorrespondence with the user information included in the receivedinformation.
 15. An information processing device capable ofcommunicating with an image forming apparatus, the informationprocessing device comprising: a memory storing instructions; and atleast one processor configured to execute the instructions, which whenexecuted cause the information processing device to send firstinformation including user information of a user operating theinformation processing device and information to instruct the imageforming apparatus to send image data to a destination of the user whichis preliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus incorrespondence with the user information, to the image formingapparatus.
 16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storinga program to cause a computer to perform a control method executed by aninformation processing device capable of communicating with an imageforming apparatus, the method comprising: sending first informationincluding user information of a user operating the informationprocessing device and information to instruct the image formingapparatus to send image data to a destination of the user which ispreliminarily registered in the image forming apparatus incorrespondence with the user information, to the image formingapparatus.